We have been asked a lot of questions in regards to our new home on wheels, so we thought that instead of answering them one-by-one, we would answer them on this post, just in case anyone else had the same questions.
What kind of travel trailer did you get? After years of research and listing out pros and cons, we finally decided on getting an Airstream for our first full-time. It took us 3 months of constant online search for the perfect one. In the end, we bought a 2014 Airstream Flying Cloud 30FB.
When and where did you get your Airstream? We picked up our Airstream from A to Z Motors in Winters, CA on Black Friday 2019. We had the best customer experience with Vince Cardinale and his crew.
What are you driving to pull your Airstream? We bought a 2006 Ford F350.
Have you ever pulled lived or camped in a travel tailer, motorhome, or anything similar? Nope, we are complete newbies.
What made you want to live this lifestyle? We have been talking about it for a few years, and we had always talked about getting an RV after the kids moved out of the house so we could visit all of them, should they leave the city or state. But, we kept asking ourselves, “Why wait until the kids are grown? Why not just do it now?” Our oldest daughter is going to be in high school next year, and we thought now is the time to do this. They’re not getting any younger, and why not enjoy these travels with them, too? Besides, we never read about other families or known anyone who has lived this lifestyle and regretted making the decision to do so.
When did you start full-timing? We started full-time living in our Airstream on December 31, 2019 (we were to vacate our condo that day). We didn’t start full-time traveling until February 2, 2020.
Where was your first destination when you started full-time traveling? We are residents of San Diego, CA and planned on touring the California Missions as we worked our way north to Washington state. Our first stop was Oceanside, CA to visit Mission San Luis Rey de Francia.
Did you have a specific date in mind to start full-timing? Yes, we knew we wanted to start our travels in February 2020. As weeks passed, and we didn’t find the right trailer, we started to think that we would have to postpone our plans, but everything eventually worked out. Obviously!
How many are in your family? We are a family of six with four kids ages 5, 8, 11, and 13.
What do you do to make sure your kids continue to be educated? We have been homeschooling since our oldest could talk. It was pretty easy transition teaching them from our home to our Airstream.
What do you do for a living?My husband owns and manages his own graphic and web design company called LCreatives. He designs marketing pieces, original logos, and branding collateral for the commercial real estate industry, healthcare companies, mom-and-pop shops, etc. I am a Wellness Executive for doTERRA essential oils and help provide guidance to people who want to live a cleaner, simpler, and more minimal lifestyle. Our oldest daughter is the first Youth Ambassador for Sanctuary Girl, a company that inspires and empowers through their jewelry pieces and home accents.
Do you still have your home in San Diego? No, we don’t.
How much of your stuff did you keep before going full-time? We kept only about 5% of our stuff in a storage unit, mostly memorabilias like photographs, kids’ school and art work, and their treasured dolls, books, and toys. We kept one set of furniture: our dining room table and chairs. There is something about it that we just couldn’t part with. The rest of our stuff were either sold or donated.
Was it difficult to go through your things and pick which items to keep and which ones to let go? In the beginning, when we had more time, it was easier. I spent time going through them and enjoying the memories that came with them. But as months turned into weeks, and with the holidays taking up most of the calendar, we were starting to lose time, and it got really hard after awhile. We literally put the last of our things in the storage at about 6 p.m. New Years Eve. Talk about cutting it close.
Did you give your truck and Airstream names? Yes, after much talk with the kids, we have named the truck “The Beast,” and we call our home on wheels, “Mr. Bean.” That’s right. Our Airstream has been named after the funny and annoyingly likable character from one of the kids’ favorite movies, “Mr. Bean’s Holiday.” It does look like a (silver) bean, doesn’t it?
Do you have Facebook and Instagram pages? Yes, you can find them here: Facebook and Instagram. You can find our posts with the hashtags #ydoyle and #adventureswithmrbean.
Do you regret your decision so far? No way. Our only regret was not starting sooner.
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